10 Most Frightening Secret Prisons On The Planet

In the labyrinth of global justice, there exists a network of secret prisons, hidden from public scrutiny, accountability, and often, humanity. But why do such places still exist in a world that champions transparency and human rights?

Secret prisons represent the darker side of governance, where laws blur and human rights can become an afterthought. They are often justified under the cloak of national security, particularly in the relentless pursuit of dangerous gangs and infamous gangsters. Yet, the ethical dilemma they pose is immense.

Despite growing condemnation, secret prisons remain. They serve as a chilling reminder of the lengths some governments will go to, often bypassing legal frameworks, to detain individuals deemed a significant threat. These hidden prisons often operate beyond the reach of standard legal protections, leaving detainees in a limbo of uncertainty and fear.

As we embark on a journey through the “10 Most Frightening Secret Prisons On The Planet”, we are forced to confront uncomfortable truths about power, justice, and the delicate balance between safety and liberty. It’s a world that many know exists, but few dare to explore.

10 – Salt Pit, Afghanistan

This is a secret CIA site in Afghanistan that was set up by the agency after the 9/11 terror attacks. As with all the prisons here, it does not officially exist which is why no-one is ever held accountable for their existence. This is used by the CIA to hold people suspected of being involved with terrorism for questioning. The conditions here are brutal with very small holding cells which have no windows or amenities. Prisoners here can expect frequent beatings, mock executions and water torture amongst other things.

09 – Penny Lane, Guantanamo Bay

What is a little strange about this secret site is that the prisoners kept there were treated very well! They were not harmed in any way at all and lived a life of luxury, compared to the main Guantanamo Bay site a few yards away. But why was this? This secret camp was solely for captured terrorists who were undergoing training to be double agents from the CIA. This would see them released from prison to rejoin their original terror cells and send information back. Unfortunately, Al Qaeda were very suspicious of any released inmates, so it didn’t work out as planned.

08 – The Resort, North Korea

This is almost like the Penny Lane of North Korea! Found close to the Chinese border, it also lets inmates live a life of luxury with no harm done to them. This is mainly because it houses academics and officials who the North Korean government deem as dangerous to them. Of course, any attempt to escape could prove fatal but not many try. With no hard labour and free meals, many are content to spend their days in this secret place.

07 – Cat’s Eye, Thailand

It is maybe no surprise to learn this is yet another CIA run secret prison – those guys certainly do not take any messing! Although its existence is officially denied by both the agency and Thai government, many think it is close to Bangkok and still operational. It was first set up in 2002 to house just one prisoner – Abu Zubaydah. He was joined by a few more after and all were used to develop some of the more infamous CIA interrogation tactics on like waterboarding. Wailing was another favourite technique used here which simply involved slamming prisoners into the walls.

06 – Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti

Found in the Horn of Africa, Djibouti is a small country but with prime strategic importance. It is close to both Somalia (which is a haven for pirates and terrorists) and Yemen which has experience lots of civil unrest in recent times. This led to the US Government setting up this camp. So it could launch strikes against targets in this part of the world in safety. Many also believe a secret prison is on the same site where suspects from neighbouring countries are taken to after being kidnapped. Once there, they can look forward to beatings, sleep deprivation and other forms of psychological or physical torture.

05 – Secret Gay Prison, Chechnya

At one time, this harsh country was a part of the greater Soviet empire. When the USSR broke up though, it waged a long war to become an autonomous state against Russia. To end years of conflict, Russia allowed this and also agreed to let Chechnya rule itself without any interference. This has seen secret prisons for homosexual being set up although they officially do not exist. Chechnya is not gay friendly at all. And it is reported that many homosexuals have been tortured to death at these prisons. What’s more many Chechnyan journalists who have reported on their existence have also been killed!

04 – Temara Center, Morocco

This secret prison is found close to Rabat in Morocco and was jointly run by the CIA (again!) and Morocco. Set up after the 9/11 terror attacks, it was originally just an interrogation suite but soon turned into a full-blown prison. The Moroccans used it more for political prisoners rather than terrorists though! The place was known as somewhere you didn’t return from and would usually leave in pieces after days of appalling treatment. Still operational, it is one place that many would do well to avoid.

03 – Camp 7, Guantanamo Bay

Pretty much everyone knows of the main prison at Guantanamo Bay where the US Government sent people suspected of terrorist offences for questioning. Camp 7 though was a top-secret hidden camp within Guantanamo Bay that no-one knew about for 2 years after it was built! It was used to house select prisoners considered high value by the CIA for special attention. Although no-one will talk about exactly what went on there, you can bet it was pretty bad.

02 – Black Jails, China

Although not officially in existence, China has many illegals jails across its many provinces. The governmental structure in China is largely the problem here. Local councils are the first port of call for any member of the public unhappy with what may be going on in their town or village. This means that the public must report the problem to them first. And then only go to central Government after if they are not satisfied. To keep in the central Government’s good books, many illegal jails are set up in the local provinces by councilors to detain people who were about to complain in this way.

01 – Unnamed Prisons, Ukraine

During the recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine, it was found that Ukraine’s secret police (the SBU) had set up secret prions in locations like Kharkiv and Mariupol. These were used to detain and question anyone thought to be helping the Russians during the conflict. One many was held there for over 500 days and was treated so badly he lost a kidney! Common forms of torture here were beatings, confinement and freezing conditions.

You would not think in this day and age that something so appalling as secret prisons would exist. As this list shows though, this is definitely the case! While no-one will ever admit to their existence or take responsibility for them, they still remain a way of getting information that Governments see fit to use when needed.

Unveiling the Shadows – CIA Black Sites and Beyond

CIA black sites symbolize the most enigmatic aspect of secret prisons. These facilities, often located in remote parts of the world, operated under a veil of utmost secrecy. The mere acknowledgment of their existence came after years of speculation and investigative reporting.

The controversy surrounding CIA black sites centers on their use for “enhanced interrogation” techniques, widely condemned as torture. Detainees, often held without formal charges, faced an uncertain fate, sometimes languishing in these hidden prisons for years.

The revelation of these underground prisons sparked global outrage and a reckoning within the U.S. It prompted heated debates about the balance between national security and human rights, about the very values that democratic societies stand for.

As we conclude our exploration of the “10 Most Frightening Secret Prisons On The Planet”, it’s clear that these institutions are more than just physical locations. They are a manifestation of the perpetual struggle between darkness and light, secrecy and transparency, in the quest for justice.

A Glimpse into the Abyss: A Brief History of Secret Prisons in the United States

America’s secret prisons have a storied and often shadowy past. From the days of clandestine Cold War operations to the post-9/11 era, the U.S. has navigated a complex path in its use of underground prisons.

The concept of secret prisons isn’t new. During World War II, special detention centers operated in secrecy, detaining those suspected of espionage. The Cold War saw the continuation of such practices, as the U.S. grappled with a new kind of enemy.

The aftermath of 9/11 marked a significant escalation in the use of secret prisons. The government, in its bid to combat terrorism, established a network of clandestine detention facilities, known colloquially as CIA black sites. These facilities were designed for the interrogation of high-value targets, often beyond the reach of traditional legal processes.

As we delve into the history of these hidden prisons, we uncover a narrative intertwined with national security, human rights debates, and the constant tug-of-war between safety and liberty. The existence of such facilities raises fundamental questions about the role of secret detention in a democratic society.